This last weekend I traveled to East T for a throwing competition. This was the first time I have been that far east in this, our adopted state (for the record, it is quite green and pleasant - not at all like the image most people have of the state).
The games were actually part of a Scottish festival on, of all things a church campus.
Now, we throwing folks are not a particularly devout group. The language that floats about on the field is, well, something that is inevitably reminded about in the throwing rules under "This is a family event. Swearing is to be kept to a minimum". So it was a little surprising that it would be on a church grounds.
More surprising? This is actually an outreach of the church.
I heard it both from one of the athletes out throwing as well as from (what I assume) was a pastor: this was an outreach event of this church - in fact, they had stopped another event to provide more funding for this one.
Why? The pastor said: "This is a way to get people to a church which they would otherwise not go to. It is a way to reach people we could not otherwise reach".
This is the first time I have heard of a church doing this. But I thoroughly approve of it.
Do I think it will make a major difference? Not sure. But if one person is saved because we went out and threw yesterday, it is completely worth it.
This is a fantastic demonstration of innovative thinking on the church's part. Would that more would follow in its path.
I think that is an excellent idea tagging on other activities to a church organisation. We often have an 'after service' get together at one of the congregation's homes, which brings the church community together.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to be a dimmo, but what is it that yo throw?
Vera, this was (in my mind) a first in that I have never known a church to actively sponsor such an event. It is an excellent way to involve the church in the larger community. After service events are another excellent way - in both cases, it is disrupting some of the inherent insularity of the church into the world.
ReplyDeleteBy throwing, it is Highland Games - rocks, weights, cabers and sheaf. I am not particularly skilled at it but it is fun.